Texas man with 4 DWI arrests flees sheriff's deputy, kills newlyweds

The Associated Press

DALLAS — An intoxicated man with four previous drunken-driving arrests sped away from a sheriff's deputy before crashing into two sport-utility vehicles, killing a newlywed couple and injuring several other people, authorities said.

Uriel Perez Palacios raced away with his lights off early Monday and drove through a red light, striking an SUV carrying five Southern Methodist University students, said Dallas County sheriff's officials. His vehicle then went airborne before landing on top of German and Erika Clouet's vehicle as the couple, married a little more than a month, drove home from a movie date, authorities said.

Palacios, 22, of Dallas, was hospitalized Tuesday in fair condition. A passenger of his was critically injured. At least three others were hurt, including two SMU students who were hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.

"Many deputies said it was one of the worst accidents that they ever saw," Dallas County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Kimberlee Leach said in a story on The Dallas Morning News' Web site. "You couldn't make out what kinds of vehicles were involved."

Officials on Tuesday charged Palacios with two counts of murder and three counts of intoxication assault. A phone listing for Palacios could not be found.

Palacios was arrested as recently as June for driving while intoxicated and was released after paying a $500 fine. He also was involved in two police chases and had four outstanding drug and DWI warrants, officials said.

A Dallas County sheriff's deputy pulled over Palacios around 2 a.m. Monday after spotting him weaving through traffic, authorities said. Palacios drove off as the deputy approached the car on foot, authorities said.

German Clouet, 23, of Irving, was a construction worker and aspiring musician. Erika Clouet, 24, was a second-grade teacher.

"She was a wonderful teacher and will be greatly missed," said Irma Vega-Zadeh, the principal at the elementary school where Erika Clouet taught.

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